Fortune telling amusement apparatus



March 18, 1958 w. E. PETERS 2,827,293

FORTUNE TELLING AMUSEMENT APPARATUS Filed Nov. 9, 1956 s Sheets-Sheet 1 A 1 v I 2 INVEN TOR.

WAX-TEE \E. PETEES, BY

4 TTOE/VE'YS March 18, 1958 w. E. Pi iTERs 2,327,298

FORTUNE TELLING AMUSEMENT APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 9, 1956 Z [Wiliiii .s w v "me w m p m m .E w

m m w 44 FIG.

,Z i i j o g,

United States FORTUNE TELLING AMUSEMENT APPARATUS Walter E. Peters, Detroit, Mich.

Application November 9, 1956, Serial No. 621,341

6 Claims. (Cl. 273161) This invention relates to amusement devices, and more particularly to an apparatus for use in games or other amusement activities, such as fortune telling, involving answering questions in either afiirmative or negative, or wherein the answer may be one of two different alternatives.

The main object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved amusement apparatus which is simple in construction, which is highly entertaining, and which is particularly adapted for use in games or other amusement activities involving answering questions in the afiirmative or in the negative, or wherein a choice of either of two answers may be employed.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved amusement device for use in fortune telling, or in other entertainment activities, said device involving inexpensive components, being easy to manipulate by the operator, and being highly mystifying and entertaining to the onlookers or to others participating in the use of the device.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and claims, and from the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an amusement apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a vertical cross sectional view taken on the line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary bottom view of the appara tus of Figures 1 and 2.

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse vertical cross sectional view taken through the toy figure and a portion of the hollow post member of the amusement device of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is an electric circuit diagram showing the connections of the electrical components of the apparatus of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawings, the amusement device is designated generally at 11 and comprises a base 12 of any suitable shape, for example, of rectangular shape, formed of suitable sheet material, such as sheet metal, or the like, defining a housing for the electrical components of the device and for certain of the mechanical elements thereof.

Designated at 14 is a vertical sleeve member which'is securedon the top wall 13 of the base 12, said sleeve member being mounted on said top wall over an aperture 15 formed therein, as shown in Figure 2. Secured on the sleeve member 14 is a cylindrical sleeve member 16. Designated at 17 is another sleeve member which is connected to the sleeve member 16 in vertically spaced relationship thereto and in axial alignment therewith by a sleeve-like coupling member 18. Mounted in the upper sleeve segment 17 is a lamp bulb 19 which is supported me lamp socket 20 secured in any suitable manner to a bracket member 21 fastened transversely in the sleeve segment 17. Said sleeve member 17 is formed with an aperture 22 located adjacent the filament of the lamp 19.

The connected sleeve elements 14, 16, 18 and 17 define a vertical upstanding hollow post member mounted on the top wall 13 of base 12. The upper section 17 is formed with vertical, diametrically aligned open-ended slot 24, 24. Designated at 25 is a scale bar which is received in the slots 24, 24 and which is pivotally connected to the top portion of the aforesaid vertical upstanding hollow post member by a transverse pivot pin 26. Designated at 27 is a cap member which is detachably secured on the upper post segment 17, as by removable screws 28, said cap member being formed with diametrically opposed slots 29 providing clearance for the rotation of the scale bar 25. The cap 27 is provided at its top end with a vertical upstanding handle rod 30, as shown in Figure 1.

The scale bar 25 extends equal distances on opposite sides of the pivot pin 26 and is formed with notches 31, 31 at its outer end portions in which are received supporting rings 32, 32'. Designated at 33, 33' are respective scale pans which are connected to the supporting rings 32, 32' by chains 34, whereby the scale pans 33, 33' are supported by the opposite end portions of the scale bar 25.

As shown in Figure 2, the scale bar 25 is formed at its intermediate portion with a vertically extending arm 35 to the top end of which are clamped a pair of flexible cables 35, 36, said cables being located equal distances at opposite sides of the pivot pin 26. The cable members 36, 36 extend downwardly through the hollow post member and into the hollow base 12, being connected at their lower ends to the respective arms 37 and 37' of a pair of inverted U-shaped link members 38, 38', which are pivoted at their outer corner portions, as shown at 39, 39 to a stationary flange 40 rigidly secured to a longitudinally extending horizontal bar member 41. The opposite end portions of the bar member 41 are rigidly secured to angle brackets 42, 42' which are in turn rigidly secured in any suitable manner to the end walls 43, 43 of the hollow base 12.

Secured to the bottom surface of the bar 41 adjacent the opposite end walls 43, 43 are the respective solenoids 44, 44', said solenoids being arranged in axial alignment with each other and being provided with the respective axially aligned plunger members 45, 45. Secured on each of the plunger members is a collar 46. A coiled spring 47 surrounds each plunger member by bearing between the collar member 46 and the depending vertical flange of an angle bracket 48 secured to the bar 41 and apertured to receive the associated plunger member slidably therethrough. The respective plunger members 45, 45 are thus biased by their associated springs 47 toward retracted positions in their associated solenoids 44, 44'.

Secured to the side edges of the depending flanges of angle brackets 48 is a plate member 49 formed with a longitudinal slot 51). The inner ends of the plunger members 45, 45 are coupled together by a connecting sleeve 51, said sleeve receiving the ends of the plunger members 45, 45 and being fastened thereto by respective cotter pins 52, 52, as shown in Figure 3. Fastened to the end portions of the respective plunger members 45, 45' are respective collars 53, 53', and rigidly secured to said collars are respective outwardly projecting pin elements 54, 54' which extend slidably through the slot 50 and which engage between the legs of the respective pivoted U-shaped link members 38, 38'.

As will be readily apparent, the plungers 45 and 45' are connected together for simultaneous movement, whereby the unitary plunger assembly defined thereby will move either in one direction or the other, depending upon,

which of the solenoids 44 or 44' becomesenergized. Therefore, assuming the solenoid 44 to be energized, the plunger assembly will be moved to the left, 'as viewed in Figure 2. This will rotate link member 38 and link member'38' clockwise, as viewed in Figure 2, producing tension ori the cable member'36, and -loosening the cable member 36. This-causes: the sca lebar25 to rotate in a counterclockwise.direction; asviewed irrFigure 2. Rota- -tion of-the scale bar 2S- depresses the scale-pa'n 33 and elevates the scale p'an 33'. Conversely, when the solenoid -44 becomes =energized,: thescale bar 25 is rotated clockwise, as viewedin' l igurefl, depressing the 'scale pan 33 -and'elevating thescale'pan33. r

V The-scale T pans "33 and 33" may be suitably identified with indieia in'dicating afiirina'tive or gne'gative answers. 'For example; the :sealepan 33 may -bemarked yes and where -an 'answer may be ei ther one of 5 two di'fierent reaplies timescaleeale1 3? may contain a card or 'oth'e'r object carrying one of the answers and the scale p'a'n'33 may contain a; similar card or otherobject containing t-he-'alternative:answer.

Mounted on'the top wall 13"of base '12 opposite the "vertical u pstanding post :member defined by the sleeve telements 14, 16, 18 a'nd 17, as above described, is a toy V figure 55;whichmay have' any suitableform'and which;

-"for examplq' may be' in theformof a comic character,

the toy figure having an opening in its headpo'rtiom for exampleha vingthe open mouth 56... The'toy figure 55 *is lo'cate'd s'o that' the' apertu're'ili is located opposite the aperture 221 of the 'upper 'sleevesegment 17.

The' toy figure 55 is provided internally with a vertical up'standi ng support 57- on the top endofwhich'is mounted -a conventionaln'socket '68 supporting. :a photoelectric cell F59. Asishown' in Eigure 4, thephoto'electric cell 59 is supported adjacent theaperture 56 and in alignment' with the opposingapermre 22 50f": the post assembly, so that c 1 the light .beam :from the lamp 19 will normally impinge onIthe'photosensitivecathode of the photoelectric'c'ell 59.

Designatedat fifl is a manually operated two-position iswitch', -mounted in the top wall of thehead portion ,of

the-"toy"figure -55, the switch being, for example, a conyentionalsingle pole doublethrow toggle switch.

Normally, the head of the toy figure carries a suitable covering; for example; assimulated turban 61 which covers sup-the otherwise exposed operating lever of the =switch 6'0,

but. the "turban filiisgof fleXible -inaterial;so that the -;op-

erator maymanipulatethe switch lever through 'the coveri'ingturban 61in a mannerL-Wh'erebyaspectator will-not realize that hezi's.operating a switch, or other: control ele- :ment: associated :with. the amusement: device.

,zReferring now :totfigureii it :Will be seen that -the -s'olenoidsi44 and:44zare selectively-controlled by the twoposition :switch 60. -Tl 1us,fthe pole "62 of-switch 69 lis' J'connected by a-wire'rifi3rtora ifirst linewi're 64. One stationary.,c'ontact65:ofa switch '60 is connected by a wire .66 to;onei=terminal 'ofzthe solenoid '44. The other contact 67 of switch 60 is connected by a Wire 68 to a terminal of V lihBiSOlEl'lOld '44, .Their'emainingterminalsfof the sole- .noids44,44'zare'connected-together by a Wire 69. Wire 621s connected. byzazwire70 to one contact .71 of a'relay.

72. mounted in .the hollow; base '12,. the :relayhaving .an

7 V :armature73'iwhich normally engages asecond contact'74;

ot therelay' The armature 73 is 'moved into engagement with ,:the contact 71 responsive to the'energization'of the winding75 of therelay. ;As will be presently'described,

. the relay 72 is normally deenergized.

Armature 73 is connected "by azwid e' 7.6- to -aisecond line wire 77. ;Therefore,"when :armature73 islm'ovedinto,

:contact withtheflstationarycontact element l lgre'sponsive to the energization of the relaymvindi'ng '75, thecommon 'termina1-"wire"69 "of the: solenoids 44,--44 is: connected to [the line wir'e 77' by a wire 70, contact 71,'= armature 73 7 and wire-76. selectedsoIenoidM. or -44'wi ll then be energized, -'depending upon. which contact 65 a or 67 of Alternatively,

.switch 60 the switchpole62 is inlengagement with. ,.For example, if pole 62 engages contact 65, the remaining terminal of the solenoid 44 will be connected to the line wire 64 by wire 65, pole 62, and wire 63. This energizes 5 the solenoid 44, the solenoid 44' remaining, deenergized whereby the scale bar 25 is rotated in the manner previously described. Similarly, if the solenoid 44' is ener gized, by operating switch 69 to bring pole 62 into engagement with contact 567, with trelay .--wiirding '75 energized, the scale bar 25 will be rotated-in the opposite direction, to depress the scale pan33 and elevate the scale pan 33,.as previouslytdescribed.

either of the scale'pans'33 or 33' may be elevated, and the other depressed, assuming relay Winding 75 to be energized. However, the relay winding 75 is normally deenergized. As shown in Figure 5, a pentode vacuum tube 78.is mounted in'the hollowibase 12,:said;vac'uum tube having=a filament79, a cathode; 80,a control.;grid-281, a screen. grid 82, a suppresser.:grid 83, "and an .anode .84.

Suppresser-grid-"83 is internally :connected. in the tube to the cathode 80. "Cathode 80 .is connected by a .wire 85 to one terminal of solenoid winding 75.- Theothercter- 'minal'lof thersolenoid'winding islconnected by a wire86 to a wire 87. The wire'87' lS'ICOl'lIlEClfid betweenithe lupper :contact'74 of the. relay 72 andthe'linelwirefl. :Anode 84isconnected' to wire 87 bya wire88.

Screen grid 82 is connectedby-a Wire 89'to oneterminal of 'a screen resistor 90. The :other terminal of. the

suitable line cord 96 to'a conventional supply receptacle.

One terminal of thefilamentfl9 is connected through'a resister 97 to the line wire 64. The'other. terminalof; the filament 79 is connected-by a-wire 98 to the wire 8'5, and

hence to the cathode 80. Thus, the filamenti7 9 is-nor- V =mallyenergized, being 'connected between the} line wires 7 and 64 ineircu'it with the relay windingf'75, the

following-circuitf Line--wire 64,' resistor 97-, filament 79;

wire 98, wire 85, relay winding 75, wire8'6,wire 87;and line wire 77.1- As will be apparent from the-wiring dia -gram :of Figure 5,- =the relay winding 75 is normally shunted by the cathode-anode circuit of tube 78,-sincezone terminal of winding 7-5'iscomiected by'the wire -35 to cathode 80 and theo'therterminal' or the --winding "755s connected by the wiref 87- and the wire 88 to the anode I84; With tube 78. conducting,therefore,-the win'ding 75 7 7 -;does not" receive-:sufiicie'nt.current'to attract; armature '13 @intocngagement iwithfcontact. 71.

Connected between wires 64 and 89 is a resistance winding :99 ;of::azpotentiometeralflfl. The sliding won- :tact;1tl1-ofisaidrpdteritiometer is connected to;gri.d:wire :93 through" a capacitor @102 gand a resistor 103; As .will

the;gr id..8,1 .is -connected;substantially to thejunctionrbetween resistors..90.a nd 92 andlis energized inphaseawith screen Bland plate -84, as above mentioned. However, (this circuit i'sjopenedwhenlthe beainhbetween thfilamp "19 and photoelectric cell 59 'is, interrupted, thegggi'id I181.

Ibeing then "connectefdthrough 're'sistor'103, capacitorfllll, and the sliding tap i101 jot potentiome'ter 100 "to" '-a fse-' -lecte'd point onthe potentiometer resistance 99. Since resistor 1 92 *is-connected in circuitwith*'resistors-90 acid 92 between the linesWites-Gt-ahd, the sliding 'tap' fll It will thereforebe seen that by means of switch 60,

-of photoelectric 'ce'll'59. Withthe photoelectric cell 65 be r apparent when photoelectric cell 59 is conducting, V

places a selected voltage on grid 81 which is however no longer in phase with the voltages on screen 82 and plate 84, since the capacitor 102 causes a phase displacement of the grid voltage. By selecting proper values of the resistor 103 and capacitor 102, and by suitably adjusting the sliding tap 101, the grid voltage may be set so as to cut off the tube 78 responsive to the interruption of the light beam between lamp 19 and photoelectric cell 59.

As shown, lamp 19 is energized from the line wires 64 and 77, one terminal of lamp 19 being connected to line wire 77 by a wire 105 and the other terminal of the lamp being connected to the line wire 64 by a wire 106.

When the operator interrupts the beam between lamp 19 and photoelectric cell 59, by placing his hand across the beam, between the aperture 56 and the aperture 22, or by any other suitable obstructing means, cell 59 ceases to conduct, causing the tube 78 to stop conducting, as above described. Relay winding 75 is thus no longer shunted by the cathode-anode circuit of tube 78, allowing sufficient current to flow through the relay winding 75 to attract armature 73 into contact with the stationary contact element 71. This allows either solenoid 44 or 44' to be energized, depending upon the position selected by the operator of the pole 62 of switch 60.

The sensitivity of the device may be adjusted by adjusting the sliding tap 101 of the potentiometer 100, which thus adjusts the magnitude and phase displacement of the voltage applied to grid 81 when the light beam between lamp 19 and photoelectric cell 59 is interrupted.

A suitable condenser 108 is connected between wire 98 and plate 84, being thereby connected across cathode 80 and plate 84 to provide smooth operation of relay 72 responsive to the extinction of plate current in tube 78 .when the light beam is interrupted.

While a specific embodiment of an amusement apparatus has been disclosed in the foregoing description, it will be understood that various modifications within the spirit of the invention may occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, it is intended that no limitation be placed on the invention except as defined by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In an amusement apparatus of the character described, a base, a post member on said base, a scale bar pivoted on said post member, scale pans connected to the opposite end portions of the scale bar, a toy figure on said base spaced from said post member, respective solenoids in the base, means formed and arranged to swing the scale bar in either of two opposite directions responsive to energization of either one or the other solenoid, a. concealed two-position manual selector switch in said toy figure, means providing a light beam extending from said post member to said toy figure, photo-sensitive means mounted to receive said light beam, and circuit means including said selector switch and said photosensitive means formed and arranged to selectively energize said solenoids in accordance with the operation of said selector switch to one or the other of its two positions and responsive to the interruption of said light beam.

2. in an amusement apparatus of the character described, a base, a post member on said base, a scale bar pivoted on said post member, a toy figure on said base spaced from said post member, respective solenoids mounted in the base, plunger means controlled by said solenoids, means coupling said plunger means to said scale bar and being formed and arranged to swing the scale bar in one direction or the other responsive to energization of one or the other solenoid, a concealed multipleposition manually controlled selector switch in said toy figure, means providing a light beam extending from said post member to said toy figure, photo-sensitive means mounted to receive said light beam, and circuit means including said selector switch and said photo-sensitive means formed and arranged to selectively energize said solenoids in accordance with the operation of the selector switch to one or the other of two positions and responsive to the interruption of said light beam.

3. In an amusement apparatus of the character described, a base, a post member on said base, a scale bar pivoted on said post member, respective scale pans connected to the opposite end portions of the scale bar, a toy figure on said base spaced from said post member, respective solenoids mounted in the base, plunger means controlled by said solenoids, means coupling said plunger means to said scale bar and being formed and arranged to swing the scale bar in one direction or the other responsive to energization of one or the other solenoid, a concealed two-position manually operated selector switch on said toy figure, means providing a light beam extending from said post member to said toy figure, photo-sensitive means mounted to receive said light beam, and circuit means including said selector switch and said photosensitive means formed and arranged to selectively energize said solenoids in accordance with the operation of said selector switch to one or the other of its two positions and responsive to the interruption of said light beam.

4. In an amusement apparatus of the character described, a base, a vertical upstanding hollow post member mounted on said base, a scale bar pivoted at its inter mediate portion to the upper portion of said post member, a lamp mounted in said post member, a toy figure on said base opposite said post member, a photo cell mounted in said figure in a position to receive light from said lamp, respective solenoids mounted in the base, plunger means controlled by said solenoids, means coupling said plunger means to said scale bar and being formed and arranged to swing the scale bar in one direction or the other responsive to the energization of one or the other solenoid, a concealed two-position manually controlled switch mounted on said toy figure, means energizing said lamp and providing a light beam extending from said lamp to said photo-cell, and circuit means including said switch and said photo cell formed and arranged to selectively energize said solenoids in accordance with the position of said switch and responsive to the interruption of said light beam.

5. In an amusement apparatus of the character described, a base, a vertical upstanding hollow post member mounted on said base, a scale bar pivoted at its intermediate portion to the upper portion of the post member, a lamp mounted in said post member below the scale bar, a toy figure on said base opposite said post member, a photo cell mounted in said figure in a position to receive light from said lamp, respective solenoids mounted in the base, plunger means controlled by said solenoids, respective link arms pivotally mounted in said base, means coupling said link arms to said plunger means, cable means connecting the respective link arms to the scale bar on opposite sides of the pivotal connection of the scale bar to the post member and being formed and arranged to swing the scale bar in one direction or the other responsive to energization of one or the other solenoids, a concealed two-position manually controlled switch mounted on said toy figure, means energizing said lamp and providing a light beam extending from said lamp to said photo cell, and circuit means including said switch and said photo cell formed and arranged to selectively energize said solenoids in accordance with the position of said switch and responsive to the interruption of said light beam.

6. In an amusement apparatus of the character described, a base, a post member on said base, a scale bar pivoted on said post member, scale pans connected to the opposite end portions of the scale bar, a toy figure on said base spaced from said post member, respective solenoids in the base, means formed and arranged to swing the scale bar in either of two opposite directions responsive to energization of either one or the other sole 

